Fluid dispensing device



May 7, 1940- B. JoHNsEN FLUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1932 4Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTO May 7, 1940. B. JoHNsEN FLUID DISPENSING DEVICEFiled Dec'. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY Mill/Q f ATTORN- FLUIDDISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 7 1940 B.JoHNsEN 2.199.800

FLUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Deo. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m M ma E TFN Nw. R EN O VM u mw A v Patented May 7, 1940` UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE FLUID msrnNslNG DEVICE tion of Delaware Application December 16,1932, Serial No. 647,595

9 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to fluid dispensing devices adapted todispense gasoline and other liquid fuels at roadside service stationsand the like, of the kind in which the movement of the indicator isproportional to the amount of liquid passed through the meter.

More particularly, the invention relates to fluid dispensing devices inwhich iiow establishing devices, such as a pump, are automaticallyactuated, as by a meter, whereby the delivery is continuous and theattendant, instead of operating a pump handle to serve the liquid, maystand at the vehicle tank where he can see exactly how much the tankwill hold and serve it without l5 spilling.

One object of the present invention is the initiation of the operationof the flow establishing means automatically upon removal of the nozzlefrom its support. To this end, the source of power is controlled by thenozzle when on its support and thev operation of devices initiating theoperation of the power devices is effected by the removal of the nozzlefrom the support.

Another object of the invention is the control of the initiation of theactuation of the ow establishing means and the prevention of itsoperation, in a subsequent transaction, until the indicating deviceshave been returned or are at initial or zero position.

The invention also seeks to control the operation of the flowestablishing devices by means when tension is applied to devicesconnected with the hose while the means for establishing flow of liquidit latched against movement until either the nozzle is removed from itssupport or the indicator is returned to initial position or both. It isalso an object of the invention to provide a liquid dispensing device ofthe character described Which is simple to manufacture and operate.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for theirattainment will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsillustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be realized, andin which:

Figure l is a view showing, in side elevation, a fragmentary portion ofa fluid dispensing device according to this invention and particularlythe means whereby initiation of the operation of the 55 flowestablishing means is prevented until the indicating devices have beenreturned to initial position, the nozzle being on its support;

Figure 2 is a view showing the indicating devices, looking from theright in Figure 1 but with the casing of the dispensing device removed;5

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the nozzle support andthe controlling devices therefor which are dependent upon the positionof the indicating devices, the parts being in the position they assumewhen the indicating de- 10 vices are at initial position and the nozzlehas been removed from its support, and taken in the plane indicated bythe line 3--3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but show- 16 ing the indicatingdevices in position to illustrate a completed sale and the support inthe position it assumes when the nozzle has been returned thereto.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, in section, zo showing the means forreturning the indicating devices to initial position;

Figure 6 is a view of a modification of the invention in which theoperation of the iiow establishing means is further controlled and onlyper- 25 mitted when tension is applied to the delivery hose, the nozzlesupport and associated parts being in the position assumed when thenozzle is on the support.

Figure 7 is' a view showing the switch mech- 30 anism of Figure 6 in theposition it would assume if the nozzle were off its support;

Figure 8 is a view showing details of the switch actuating arm latchedin off position; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional 35 view taken in theplaneindicated by the line 9-9 of Figure 8 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Referring first to Figure 1, a standard or housing 20, of anyconvenient-shape,- is adapted to 40 support and contain the devices forestablishing the flow of fluid from a tank (not shown), say, beneath theground and measuring it for delivery from a nozzle 2| on the end of adelivery hose 22 into, say, the fuel tank of a motor vehicle. 45

In the front of the housing and at a desirable elevation where it may beeasily visible or, if desired, in both the front and back walls, thehousing 20 is formed with an opening 23, preferably circular, covered bya transparent closure 24 and behind which is conveniently mounted a dial25 graduated to indicate units of measure of the liquid delivered.Mounted on a shaft 26, Figure 2, extending, preferably, from side toside, are hands 28 and 30, the larger hand 30 indicating the units ofmeasure of liquid delivered by the dispensing device and the smaller`hand or fraction pointer 28 indicating fractions of the unit of measuredelivered by the pump,

In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid is drawn from a tank, say,beneath the ground (not shown) by iiow establishing means, for instance,the pump 3|, driven, say, by the electric motor 32, from which pump 3|it is delivered by the pipe 34 to the meter 36. Obviously, means otherthan a motor driven pump may be resorted to to force the liquid from thetank through the meter to the hose, such as fluid pressure, or where -agravity flow is possible, a valve operated, say,

by an electromagnet or other motor means may be availed of. 'I'heparticular means for establishing the iiow of liquid forms no part ofthe invention and the -pump and motor are illustrative only and may bereplaced by any other means, mechanical, uid pressure or otherwise. Themeter 36, Figure 2, may be of any convenient kind and is provided with ameter shaft 38 which is rotated by the uid passing through the meter.Preferably gearing 40 is of such ratio that the fractional gallon shaftmakes one complete rotation for each gallon, say, of liquid delivered.From the meter 36, the liquid is delivered, as by a pipe 42, to the hose22 for delivery from the nozzle 2 I.

When not in use, the end of the hose 22, i. e., the nozzle, is carriedon a nozzle support 44 pivotally mounted, say, at 46, on a frame member48 secured at a convenient point on one of the upright columns 49 withinthe casing 20, the nozzle support 44 extending through a slot 50 in thehousing.

The mechanism indicating the units of liquid delivery from the nozzle 2|is supported upon and above a transversely extending supporting means,shown as a platform 52 (Figure 2), carried upon the pillars 49, whichplatform 52 may also support the meter 36. The drive between the meterand the shaft 26 is effected by suitable reducing gearing, indicatedgenerally at 40 and a vertical shaft 54, provided with a worm 56 whichdrives the arbor 58 on which the hands are mounted and which isconnected to the shaft 26 whereby the hand on the other side may bemoved in unison. The worm 56 meshes with a worm gear 51 so mounted on anoverrunning clutch 59 on the arbor 58 that the arbor 58 may turn withinthe worm gear freely in one direction of rotation to permit theindicator hands to be returned to zero position, but is restrained fromrelative movement with respect to the worm gear in the oppositedirection whereby, when the meter drives the shaft 54 the hands will berotated to record the liquid passed'through the meter. For convenience,the end of the arbor 58 carries a knob 55 (Figure 5) to enable it to bemanually rotated in returning the hands to zero.

The split gallon hand 28 is driven from the arbor 58 by gearing 53 tomake one revolution for each unit of measure in a manner well known inthe art.

Referring now to Figure 3, the nozzle support 44 is preferably iixed ona shaft 46 journalled in the bearings 41 on the frame 48, as has beenexplained. 'I'his shaft also has xed thereon a downwardly extending arm80. A tension member, such as the coil spring 82, extends between theend of the arm 80 and a portion of the frame 48 so that the shaft 46tends to turn in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3.The spring 82 is weak enough to permit the arm to assume the positionshown in Figure 6 when the Weight of a nozzle is on the support 44.

Also fixed to the shaft 46 is a rearwardly extending arm 84, which maybe integral with support 44, the end of which arm is connected by a link86 with an arm 88 of a switch operating shaft 89, the switch (not shown)being so arranged that when the support 44 is in the lifted positionshown in Figure 3, the switch is closed and when the support 44 isdepressed, as in Figure l, as by weight of the nozzle, the switch ispermitted to open. This switch is conveniently in the electrical circuitcontrolling the operation of the motor means 32.

In accordance with 'this invention, it is proposed to prevent theoperation of the iiow establishing means until the indicator hasreturned to initial position from a position recording the amount ofliquid delivered in a previous transaction. In the illustratedembodiment, the motor circuit switch is latched in open circuit positionand cam means movable with the indicator, at initial position, releasesthe latch. Mounted upon a transverse rod 90, Figures 2 and 3, is asupporting frame 9| in the end of which is journalled a rock shaft 92.This rock shaft 92 has fixed thereon, conveniently, a cam actuated bellcrank formed by the arms 93 and 94, the downwardly depending arm 93 ofwhich is connected by a link 96 with the downwardly depending arm 98 ofa latching bell crank 98, 99, which bell crank is normally urged torotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, by a spring |00extending between the end of the arm 99 and a fixed point on a frame 14,formed with a slot in which the nozzle support moves. I By means of thespring, the bell crank 93, 94 tends to turn in a clockwise direction tothe position, for instance, as shown in Figure 4, being always urgedagainst a locking lug |04 on the nozzle support. 'I'he lower end of thearm 98 is formed with a locking recess or shoulder |02, vthat is, theend of the arm 98 is notched, as at |02 to receive and engage a squaredlug |04 on the nozzle supporting arm 44 when the support is in depressedposition. Thus when the support 44 is in its lowermost position, thespring |00 rocks the bell crank 98, 99 so that the lug is engaged andsupport 44 held in its lowermost position. When, however, the nozzle isremoved from its support and the bell crank 93, 94 rotated in acounter-clockwise direction, the lug |04 is released, permitting thespring 82 to rock the shaft 46 in a counter-clockwise direction toeffect the closing of the switch. The nozzle support is then elevatedbut the spring |00 continues to urge the latch against the lug forengagement when the support is again depressed. The arm 94 of the latchactuating bell crank 93, 94 is adapted to be engaged by a roller, pin orthe end |08 of an arm ||0 carried with the gallon hand 28 on the arbor58 (Figure 2) and while it may be offset therefrom, it is generally inprolongation thereof on the opposite side of the arbor. Thus, let it beassumed that the parts are in the position illustrated in Figure 4,after a quantity of liquid has been delivered by the liquid dispensingdevice in a previous transaction and the nozzle has been returned to thesupport 44. If it is desired, in a new transaction, to commence thedelivery of liquid, it is necessary to rotate the arm 28 back to zerowhich movement carries the arm ||0 to the dotted line position shown inFigure 3. In this position, the pin 08 on arm I |0 depresses the latchactuating arm 94 thereby moving the u link 96 to the right, as viewed inFigure 3, to release the support 44 and permit the spring 82 to elevatethe same, thereby depressing the link 8B and closing the switch andinitiating the operation of the now establishing means. When thetransaction is completed and the nozzle is returned to its support, thesupport is depressed to the position shown in Figure 4, permitting thespring |00 to rock the latching bell crank 98, 99 so that the notch |02engages the lug |04 and holds the nozzle support in depressed position.

Situations arise when it is desirable to halt the flow of liquid whenthe nozzle is off its support. For instance, a fire-may break out in thevicinity of the pump while the attendant is standing by the side of amotor vehicle and delivering liquid into the fuel tank thereof. Or themotor vehicle may drive away while the nozzle is still in the opening ofa fuel tank, thus placing a strain on the hose 22 which causes itsrupture, spilling liquid upon the ground which may cause fire. So longas the pump operates, the fire will be continuously fed. Further, afterhis initial order has been filled, the purchaser may decide to take anadditional quantity of fuel. As an added safety feature, therefore,which will permit control of the aforesaid factors, it is proposed thatthe flow establishing means be not permitted to operate except when -theattendant so wills, always, however, subject to the superior controlexercised by the latching means dependent upon the return of theindicator to zero and the removal of the nozzle from its support. As theattendant will be required to place the nozzle in the inlet opening of afuel tank and will stand beside the hose 22, the control of the owestablishing means may be effected by the movement of the hose.

'I'he same switch actuating arm 88, or, more correctly, the shaft 89 towhich it is attached, may be utilized to control switch mechanismactuated by connections from the hose. As i1- lustrated in Figure 6, aframe member ||4 carried outwardly of a slot ||3 in the casing 20 andproximate the nozzle support may be formed with a channel ||6 withinwhich a slide H8, of any convenient kind, reciprocates. This slide isconnected, as by a link |20, preferably flexible, with an arm |22 fixedon a rock shaft |24 journalled inwardly of the housing, the shaft |24also carrying an inwardly directed arm |26 to which a plunger |28 isadjustably fixed. 'I'his plunger may pass through the switch box 33 andbe guided therein and, at its lower end, may be connected with a powerstoring device, conveniently, the weight |30. In this modification, theswitch actuating shaft is indicated in dotted lines at |32 and an armactuating the same is shown as fixed thereon at |34. The switch isadapted to be closed when the arm assumes the position indicated inFigure 7, when the link |28 is drawn upwardly by a pull on the hose andis opened when the arm occupies the position shown in Figure 6, when thehose is released and the link pulled downwardly by the weight. The endof the arm is adjustably connected with the plunger |28 and a spring|36, surrounding the plunger, is conveniently disposed in a wall |31 andbears against a sleeve forming one part of the connection between thearm |34 and the plunger |28. In this modification, the shaft 83 also hasfixed thereon a downwardly depending arm |40 formed with a rabbetted ornotched end |42 adapted to engage the squared lug |44 on the arm 34 whenthat arm is in its lowermost position.

Thus, when the nozzle is on its support thereby elevating the link 86and rocking the bell crank 88, |40 in a -clockwise direction and thetension on the hose 22 is relieved so that the weight |30 has moved theswitch closing arm |34 downwardly, the bell crank arm or switch latch|40 is enabled to turn to a position over the locking lug |44 to engageVthe same and hold the switch arm |34 against moving to switch closingposition. It is then impossible to close the switch by pulling on thehose 22, the removal of the nozzle from the support being also necessaryto effect the release of the latch |40. Similarly, the switch cannot beclosed merely by removing the nozzle from the hook it being alsonecessary to pull on the link |20 in order to elevate the switchactuating lever |34. And where the return of the indicator furthercontrols the latch 98, it is also necessary to move the indicator backto zero.

'I'he operation of the liquid dispensing apparatus is apparent from theforegoing description. Briefly, the cycle of operations is as follows:Let it be assumed that the hand 28 is disposed in a position whichindicates the number of units of fuel delivered in a previoustransaction, the nozzle being on the hook. The parts will then be in theposition indicated in Figure 6, in which the nozzle support 44 isdepressed and locked by the latch 38. And the latch releasing arm ||0 isrotated away from the latch actuating arm 94. The attendant then rotatesthe knob 55 on the end of the arbor 58 and returns the hands 28, 30 toinitial position pointing to the zero on the dial. This rotates the arm|I0 in a clockwise direction, Ias viewed in Figure 4, to a verticalposition, depressing the latch releasing arm 94 and releasing the latch98. This permits the spring 82 to rock the nozzle support upwardly tothe position shown in Figure 3, carrying the link 86 downwardly to closethe switch. Where, however, as in Figure 6, a pull hose control isprovided, this movement of the nozzle support 44 merely rocks the latchactuating arm 88 in a counter-clockwise direction and swings theswitch`latch |40 to the position shown in Figure 7, releasing the arm|34 for movement. The weight |30, however, holds the switch closing arm|34 in the down position, shown in Figure 6. When tension is applied tothe hose 22, the shaft |24 is rocked in a clockwise direction elevatingthe plunger |28 and moving the switch actuating arm |34 to the positionshown in Figure 7, thereby closing the switch and energizing the motormeans which causes the pump to operate. If then tension on the hose isreleased so that the weight |30 again causes the switch to open, afurther delivery of uid may be readily eifected by again pulling on thehose since the nozzle support 44 remains in its elevated position andthe switch latches 98 and |40 remain in disengaged position. When,however, the nozzle is returned to its support and the support moveddown under the weight of the nozzle, the lug |04 is then in a positionto be engaged by the notch on the latch 98. The hose, of course, at thistime will have been released thereby enabling the weight |30 to pulldown the arm |34 and the latch |40 will engage the lug |44 and the partswill be locked against movement and cannot be released until after theindicator is returned to zero.

It will thus be seen that a liquid dispensing device has been providedin which the flow of liquid is prevented until the indicating deviceshave been returned to initial position. At the same time, but in thesame transaction, the iiow establishing means may be started and stoppedat will as by tension applied to the hose just so long as the nozzle isnot returned to its support.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in thedisposition and configuration of the component elements going to make upthe invention as a whole as well as in the selection land/orcombinations of certain of the features independently of others or thesubstitution therefor of other means accomplishing the same results, andno limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoingdescription or illustrations in the accompanying drawings, except asindicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In liquid dispensing apparatus having indicating means the movementof which is proportional to the amount of liquid passed through themeter, flow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, anelectrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a movablenozzle support, the combination of means to actuate the switch,operative connections between the nozzle support and the switchactuating means movable between operative and inoperative positions,means to latch said operative connections in inoperative position, meansto return the indicating means to initial position, means movablesynchronously with the indicating means and means actuated thereby tomove the latch to releasing position.

2. In liquid dispensing apparatus having indicating means the movementof which is proportional to the amount of liquid passed through themeter, flow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, anelectrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a movablenozzle support, the combination of means to actuate the switch,operative connections between the nozzle support and the switchactuating means movable between operative and inoperative positions,means to latch said operative connections in inoperative position, meansto return the indicating means to initial position, means movablesynchronously with the indicating means, power storing means to move thelatch to engaging position, and means actuated thereby vto move thelatch to releasing position.

3. In liquid dispensing apparatus having indicating means the movementof which is proportional to the amount of liquid passed through themeter, flow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, anelectrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a movablenozzle support, the combination o1' means to actuate the switch,operative connections between the nozzle support and the switch meansmovable between operative and inoperative positions, power storing meansto move the switch actuating means to switch closing position, means tolatch said operative connections in inoperative position, means toreturn the indicating means to initial position, means movablesynchronously with the indicating means and means actuated thereby tomove the latch to releasing position.

4. In liquid dispensing apparatus having indieating means the movementof which is proportional to the amount of liquid passed through themeter, flow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, anelectrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a movablenozzle support, the combination of means to actuate the switch, means toactuate the switch, operative connections between the nozzle support andthe switch actuating means movable between operative and inoperativepositions, power storing means to move the switch actuating means toswitch closing position, means to latch said operative connections ininoperative position, means to return the indicating means to initialposition, means movable synchronously with the indicating means, powerstoring means to move the latch to engaging position and means actuatedthereby to move the latch to releasing position.

5. In liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, indicating means, arotating shaft therefor, flow establishing means, electrical power meanstherefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch,a pivoted nozzle support, a switch actuating lever, a link connectingthe lever and the nozzle support, power storing means to elevate thenozzle support to close the switch, a latch for the support, powerstoring means normally urging the latch into latching engagement withthe support, a lever, operative connections between the latch and thelever whereby movement of the lever in one direction releases the latchand cam means carried by the shaft to engage and move the lever.

6. In liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, indicating means, arotating shaft therefor, iiow establishing means, electrical power meanstherefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch,a pivoted nozzle support, a. switch actuating lever, a link connectingthe lever and the nozzle support, power storing means to elevate thenozzle support to close the switch, a lug carried by the support, a bellcrank one-arm of which is formed with a recess to engage the lug, powerstoring means operatively connected with the other arm of the -bellcrank to urge the recess into engagement with the lug, a lever,operative connections between the latch and the lever whereby movementof the lever in one direction releases the latch and cam means carriedby the shaft to engage and move the lever.

7. In liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, indicating means, arotating shaft therefor, flow establishing means, electrical power meanstherefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch,a pivoted nozzle support, a switch actuating lever, a link connectingthe lever and the nozzle support, power storing means to elevate thenozzle support to close the switch, a latch for the support, powerstoringmeansnormally urging the latch into latching engagement with thesupport, a bell crank, a link between one arm of the bell crank and thesaid latch and cam means carried by the shaft to engage and move thebell crank.

8. In liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, indicating means, arotating shaft therefor, ow establishing means, electrical power meanstherefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch,a pivoted nozzle support, a switch actuating lever, a link connectingthe lever and the nozzle support, power storing means to elevate thenozzle support to close the switch, a lug carried by the support, a bellcrank one arm of which is formed with a recess to engage the lug, powerstoring means operatively connected with the other arm of the bell crankto urge the recess into engagement with the lug, a bell crank, a linkbetween one arm of the bell crank and the said recessed arm and cammeans carried by the shaft to engage and move the second bell crank.

9. In liquid dispensing apparatus having indicating means the movementof which is proportional to the amount of liquid passed through themeter, iiow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, anelectrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a movablenozzle support, the combination of means to actuate the switch, latchingmeans therefor, operative connections between the nozzle support and theswitch latching means movable between operative and inoperativepositions, means to latch said operative connections in inoperativeposition, means to return the indicating means to initial position,means movable synchronously with the indicating means, means actuatedthereby to move the latch to releasing position, a delivery hose, apivoted arm, power storing means to move the arm in one direction,operative connections between the arm and the hose to move the arm inthe other direction upon displacement of the hose and operativeconnections between the arm and the switch actuating means.

BJORNULF JOHNSEN.

